Nice Surprise

OK. I don't like to admit it, but I googled myself today. Don't ask me why. Probably some deep-seated secret longing for acceptance. Afterall, I just want to be loved. OR NOT...




Anyway.

I googled myself and found out that I received an award three months after I quit my job to become a missionary. The very last TV spot that I created in my 12-year career in advertising was recognized by ADWEEK in their "Best Spots." The commercial was created for Ford, and tells the story of a young woman in search of the last good man on earth. It just so happens that the last good man is a Sasquatch, and it took a Ford Escape to get her there. This was in the top three funnest shoots I ever did in my career. It was a nice way to exit.

Paul Hicks played our 6'-7" hero. Jim, my partner, played the 5'-10" writer. That's him in the bottom shot, not the top. Miss you bro!

*Disclaimer (wouldn't be a Ford spot without one)- No, I do not believe in evolution. I apologize for the fact that, if anything, advertising argues against the "Intelligent Design" theory.

Family Newsletter In The Mail

We just put a newsletter in the mail yesterday. Hopefully it will reach everyone soon.

Call to Prayer

We've just blasted out an important article that Lou Engle has written. I would encourage you to read it.

Lest We Forget

I went to see "United 93" today. I was rocked by the entire experience. If you look at reviews, many have questioned whether it was too soon to make a movie about this. My opinion now is that the timing is impeccable. I found myself caught up not in the drama but in the memory of the experience. I cried through half the film. How poignant to see the moment of the muslims in the front of the plane praying to Allah while the folks in the back prayed to God (talk about contending houses of prayer). I felt Greengrass did a good job making the movie apolitical, although there were clear statements throughout. This movie is a huge window into the spiritual state of America and the Western Church in 2001. The first three hijacked planes made it to their targets before our intelligence organizations had a clue what was going on. We were only able to scramble four military aircraft, and they came too late and unprepared. The first two were not armed, and the other two flew east instead of north. Is that a picture of where the praying Church was at that time? Half of us had no weapons, and the other half of us were going the wrong way?

I'm not criticizing the people or agencies for their response in that event. My thoughts turn more to the Church, her place at that time, and her continued response now. Damon Thompson shared a story at our RumbleUSA conference in January that has stuck with me. He told of how he sat stunned and angry in front of his television on 9/11 watching the tragedy unfold. He stood up and threw his remote against the wall smashing it yelling, "God, where were the prophets?" God responded by asking back, "Where were you?"

A Sober Evening

The entire community went to see "United 93" last night. We then had a community meeting afterwards to discuss the effect of the film. I stayed home to babysit, but I plan to see the film today. I'll write more about what I feel after that.

The range of emotions and reaction to the movie was broad in our group. The overall response, though, was that America has fogotten what happened. Could it even be said that we have somehow fallen in love with Islam? That's a bold statement, I know. Undoubtedly me saying that will ruffle some feathers out there. Rees Howells said this during WWII, "Mussolini is a man. But Hitler can tell you the day the spirit entered him." Mr. Howells and his band of 100 intercessors knew what they were battling. They understood that while the soldiers were resisting the advance of tanks and infantry, they were resisting the advance of dark spiritual forces bent on world domination. He encouraged his prayer force that they were no less important than the man on the front holding a rifle. It was their stand that determined the outcome of The Battle of Britain. September 11th is a graphic example of how the American Church lost air supremacy. No, not the superiority of our Air Force. I'm talking about the air supremacy of the heavens. There are dark, spiritual forces bent on world domination again. Who will take a stand to resist them?

The Cause is contemplating blasting out an endorsement to see this film. It obviously contains extremely tense thematic material and language. The Lord's name is taken in vain, and it has an overall R rating. We're praying about this.